A wedding is an event that requires a lot of planning and preparation ahead of time. Several things contribute to weddings being fun and memorable for everyone involved, especially the bride and groom and their guests. First, however, you need to carefully consider the location of your wedding if you want it to be a successful event.

While no one denies the importance of choosing the right wedding venue, making the right choice is so important. Your venue, which might take up a considerable chunk of your budget, sets the tone of your wedding,  Your venue selection has a significant role in bringing your ideal wedding to reality, ensuring that both you and your guests have a great time, Your location will determine how many guests you invite,  the kind of decor and the setup you choose. Keep in mind it will also serve as the backdrop for your wedding photos. 

Booking a wedding venue can be a very intimidating process. Having all the information you need to select a location for your wedding will help you make the best choice for your venue. Some questions to consider as your wedding plan include the type of location for your event, how accessible is it for your guests, whether is it within your budget, does the venue offer tiered pricing &  service packages, and what does each package include? These are q to consider before choosing your wedding venue for this special occasion. 

Wedding Realm’s checklist can help you shortlist wedding venues and identify your ideal location. Here are 5   to consider as you search for your venue.

Does this venue reflect your vision?

There are a wide variety of wedding styles and formats, and the one you choose for your big day will depend on your vision.  You might already have a definite idea of how you want your wedding day to look and feel. You might, for instance, be interested in having your wedding in a bohemian style on a mountain, complete with glamping, a profusion of flowers, and plenty of time spent outside. Or you may want a wedding in a ballroom with a formal theme, with guests in black ties and beautiful dresses. 

It's perfectly OK if you have no clue what kind of wedding you want. Start with 2 or 3 wedding themes and narrow it down to your favorite. Remember you need to be specific about the venue you are going to choose because you want it to reflect your style and personality. Perhaps you prefer the indoors, and a serene atmosphere. Or maybe you like the outdoors with beautiful scenery, A classic romantic, you dream of riding with your spouse in a carriage. Just imagine yourselves together in different locations, and shortlist the best of them. Now you need to ask your venue vendors what the best options available are according to your vision.

Is the location big enough for my anticipated guest list? 

Most venues will go above and beyond to work with couples. Ask questions, lots of questions. "How many guests are most effective in this space?”  Compiling a list of wedding guests you are expecting to attend and providing an estimate to the venue vendor will give you a more accurate estimate of options available at the venue. 

It is not necessary to pack 150 people into a space just because you can do so. For instance, you do not want any empty chairs which might leave a negative impression on guests. For safety reasons you also do not want to have only 100 chairs for 150 guests. You do not have to go overboard or cut corners, you just have to find that sweet spot that is right for your guests and your budget.

Is this wedding venue the right one for what I need?

Choosing the right number of guests and the capacity of the venue isn’t going to be the only decision you have to make. There is one more, what about the arrangements that you are going to make? You’ve found an awesome DJ from the Wedding Realm, who is going to make everyone dance all night long.  But what if your wedding venue can’t accommodate this? 

For instance, if you want to have the ceremony, drinks, and reception all in the same location, you should find out whether the venue has three distinct areas for each of these activities. If not, do they suggest doing a "flip" instead? The traditional "flip" involves transforming the location where the ceremony took place into the reception hall during cocktail hour when guests are often mingling in other parts of the venue. 

Flips are a fantastic tool for turning a space into one that serves your needs. However, you should make sure that the venue provides this option, and how frequently they do this to determine their style and quality of service. You must discuss the order in which the ceremony will take place if one is to take place there. Where will the bride and groom wait before they walk down the aisle? If they don't want to see each other before the ceremony, are there separate locations they can go to? Where do individuals get their information? Is there a standard arrangement for the ceremony or an "altar"?

Do you like the venue staff? 

How do you feel about the staff at the selected venue of your wedding? Are they friendly and have a  positive attitude? Are they knowledgeable, and professional and provide excellent customer service? On the day of your wedding, you want to be surrounded by trustworthy individuals who you can rely on to do all of the crucial jobs, and who are also confident capable calm, and supportive. Do you feel reassured while you are in their presence? If the personnel at the venue are unprofessional, unorganized, or too aggressive, you should keep exploring for a better atmosphere!

Having said that, the venue organizer is almost certainly the most vital employee at the venue. In most cases, it is the responsibility of the venue organizer to take care of matters about the location, such as switching on the lights, keeping an eye on the temperature, and locking up at the end of the night. Make sure that you know who the venue coordinator is, and that you’re familiar with their role as venue coordinator and point of contact.  It is crucial to know everyone who will be working with you and what their role is to ensure that no details are overlooked.

Will the wedding venue break your wallet? 

A common mistake many engaged couples make is falling in love with a venue and then spending their entire wedding budget booking a  venue. Check if the cost of the venue is within your budget. Before you commit to spending thousands of dollars on a wedding venue, you need to ask yourself if you are comfortable spending this amount. Are you going to make compromises on other important aspects of your wedding if you choose a venue at a higher price than you planned?

Even though you will probably be required to make an initial payment to reserve your wedding venue, the remaining portion of your bill won't be due until much closer to the day of your wedding. To avoid missing any deadlines, you should make certain that you are aware of the balance,  payment due date, and method of payment. If you miss the deadline for making a payment, you risk being charged late penalties or cancellation of your reservation.

Summing up

Now that you know what you need to consider for selecting your wedding venue, keep in mind this is not an exhaustive list of tips. You need to physically visit the venue yourself and confirm the availability of the venue on that particular day and get the feel for yourself. 

To make things simple and easy for you, you can always get in touch with the trusted vendors of Wedding Realm who will help you choose the right venue for your wedding.

PS: Congrats on the big day!